Perspectives of regional integration in the East African Community

Abstract

This paper analyses the perspectives of Regional Integration in the East African Community. It delves into the process, prospects and challenges towards integrating the East African Community countries of Kenya. Uganda. Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The authors argue that integration remains an important avenue of capital formation and collective self-reliance. The federalism. functionalism and Baregu's imperatives provide the theoretical lenses of the paper. The central question thus; does integration better positions economies tor faster economic development? The paper recommends inter-alia the need for institutional capacity building and popular participation of the people for successful integration. This paper is significant as it points to the importance of integration; if peace. economic development. higher production. trade and self-sufficiency are to be achieved amidst the fierce competition in the global market. The fear of losing power and authority to a regional government should therefore, not hamper the EAC from harnessing the benefits of Regional Integration.